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FJJF Sponsors Good Citizen Training Certification for dogs to be placed as therapy pets.

From Kids & Canines Director, Kelly Hodges

Thank you for your donation of $450. By supporting Kids & Canines you helped an at-risk youth, rescued a homeless dog and assisted someone in need of a comfort or therapy dog.The magic of the program is simple. We take one rescued dog and one at-risk child and bring them together with a purpose. While the dog is being trained for therapy work, they serve as heroes giving their student trainers the best therapy ever – unconditional dog love. Through the process the child learns empathy, dedication, social skills and the importance and successes that comes from hard work. Together we are changing lives.

Meet Rex

Rex's Journey Finds Him a Home

Puppy Rex is a great example of what can happen when people with a passion come together.

At 6 months Rex moved in with the girls at Hillsborough Girls Academy (HGA), Dept. of Juvenile Justice as part of our DJJ Program where the girls spent six months training and caring for him. This placement was a huge success. In fact, not one of the trainers in HGA received a disciplinary action while in the program. One girl even went on to get a job at a local animal hospital after being released from HGA.

We are happy to announce that Rex was placed with a family who was not only looking for a dog but one that could help a family member who was in the special forces and suffers from PTSD.

Rex proves that we can empower children and change lives ... all through the love of one dog.

Meet Lucy with her trainer

Following on the success of Rex and Sam who were trained by the girls at Hillsborough Girls Academy, we have placed our third dog, Lucy is teaching the girls empathy, responsibility and work skills. Lucy will graduate and be certified February 2018 to be placed as a therapy dog.

As a child Antonio spent his time trying to find a safe place and survive. He bounced around until he became a ward of the state. At 17 he still carries those scars. He may have come into our program a shy child who was slow to trust but at Kids and Canines he shines. He arrives every day, smiling, ready to train "his" dog Lucy. Here he has found acceptance and caring. His confidence has grown, so much so that he volunteers with the younger kids and is quick to instruct the other trainers. And because of the skills he has learned while in our program he recently applied for a position with a local pet center.

We take one rescued do and one at-risk child and bring them together with a purpose. While the dog is being trained for therapy work, they serve as heroes giving their student trainers the best therapy ever - unconditional dog love. Through the process the child learns empathy, dedication, social skills and the importance and successes that comes from hard work.

Our funding comes from individuals, like you, who believe that together we can change a child's life. Thank you! Together we are changing lives and giving disadvantaged children important life skills, emotional support and mentoring.

Last Sunday, I toured the Miami Youth Academy (MYA) Residential Program in Miami during the program’s Family Day festivities. Family Day is an event that invites the families of youth at the facility for a day of food, fun, and fellowship. In addition, I was able to meet the new pet therapy dog at the facility. The dog was purchased by the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation (FJJF), the DJJ direct-support-organization, and was appropriately named “Caroline,” after our own FJJF Director Caroline Ray (pictured with me, at left).

The Miami Youth Academy, operated by G4S, serves males between the ages of 14 and 18, in a non-secure residential commitment program. Males served are those who have been assessed as needing Substance Abuse Treatment Overlay Services (SAOS) in a residential environment.

Help support the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation and its mission to positively change the lives of troubled youth, by making a donation. Make a donation today!

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This website was funded in part by Grant No. Q6001, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention through the State Advisory Group of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. In addition, this project is funded partially by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

The opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.